K-9 Flash Makes Her Heritage Distilling Co. Debut!
We are thrilled to show off K-9 Flash's latest modeling endeavor as she graces the bottles of Service to America Salute™ Law Dogs™ Edition Whiskey from Heritage Distilling Company, as part of the Salute Series. Ten dollars from every bottle sold will be donated to Project K-9 Hero, with a minimum goal of $25,000 donated by the end of 2025! Sign up at their website to be notified as soon as sales go live. And stay tuned for some epic pics of K-9 Rikki and K-9 Deni posing with the product.
On July 19th, Project K-9 Hero National Ambassador K-9 Yoube will be honored with a permanent headstone and a ceremony by Michigan War Dog Memorial, located at 25805 Milford Rd, South Lyon, MI 48178. We will be gathering to celebrate Yoube's impact, along with honoring PK9H Program Members K-9 Koda and MWD RRoddie, with headstones and special ceremonies for them as well. The event will begin at 11:30 AM ET, starting with the Jodi Johnson Memorial Scholarship presentations, awarded to six exceptional scholars in memory of Jodi Johnson, a true supporter and animal advocate. All are welcome.
The K-9 Biathlon at the World Police and Fire Games happened, and it was great fun! Competitors came from all over the world. Congratulations to Steven Antommarchi and K-9 Bear, from Hickory Creek Police Department, Texas, for taking home the Gold Medal in Narcotics Detection. They had an outstanding search with the most number of finds, with the least amount of errors, in the fastest time. We also want to congratulate Bundespolizei Officer Stefanie Block and K-9 “Hey Siri” from Hamburg, Germany for taking home the Gold Medal in the 50-60 age bracket, and Frederico Silva and K-9 "Shelby" from Brazil for taking home the Gold Medal in the 18-39 age bracket. We hope to see you all again next time!
As for our staff, we want to congratulate Julie Simpson, for being promoted from Graphic Designer to our new Manager of Design and Merchandise. In addition to graphic design, this position manages aspects of our web store, with an emphasis on inventory, vendor coordination, and fulfillment logistics. We are also pleased to tell you about our newest hire, Trish Garrison as our new Kennel Technician. She is working closely with our dogs on site to get them everything they need to thrive!
It is with sorrow that we recognize the loss of Bill Bolyard, our beloved Construction Consultant. He was an important member of our team, working from our offices in Whitwell, TN. He was also the father of Sheena Haller, our Senior Director of Program Services, and father in law to Roger Haller, our Maintenance Manager. Bill dedicated his heart and his time to the mission of PK9H wholeheartedly. The amount of blood, sweat, and tears he donated to our retired Police K-9s and Military Working Dogs will go unmatched. We all loved Bill, even Military Working Dog Rosso, who didn’t love many. Bill will be greatly missed by all of us here. No one will ever be able to fill his extremely large cowboy hat and boots.
Thank you, as always, for your support of our nation's retired working dogs.
Jodi Johnson Memorial Scholarships
Join us July 19th at 11:30 AM ET at the Michigan War Dog Memorial as we honor the recipients of our 2025 Jodi Johnson Memorial Scholarships. This year, we chose six exceptional scholars: Brady Lane, Riley Porter, Joshua Cipielewski, Lilly Colley, Mya McKenna, and Baylee Osentoski.
The Jodi Johnson Memorial Scholarship was created to remember the life of our Founder's sister. Each winner will receive a $1,000 award, paid directly to their educational institution of choice.
Congrats, Julie Simpson!
It is with great pleasure that we announce our devoted team member, Julie Cates Simpson, has been promoted from Graphic Designer to Manager of Design and Merchandise.
Julie will play a key role in advancing our mission through creative product design, strategic merchandise planning, and e-commerce maintenance and execution. This new title greatly increases her duties and responsibilities while supporting continued growth in effectiveness, productivity, and fundraising.
Welcome, Trish Garrison!
Our new Kennel Tech, Trish Garrison, spent over 20 years in the pet industry as owner and operator of Peace of Mind Pet Services, Inc. in Houston, Texas.
During that time, she also volunteered and trained with Special K-9s Search and Recovery, a civilian team dedicated to bringing closure to families with missing and deceased loved ones. We are pleased to have her on our team!
World Police & Fire Games - CONGRATS!
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Frederico Silva and K-9 "Shelby" from Brazil taking home the Gold Medal in the 18-39 age bracket
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Bundespolizei Officer Stefanie Block and K-9 “Hey Siri” from Hamburg, Germany taking home the Gold Medal in the 50-60 age bracket
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Steven Antommarchi and K-9 Bear from Hickory Creek Police Department, Texas, for taking home the Gold Medal in Narcotics Detection
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We are thrilled to tell you about this brand-new Service to America Salute™ Law Dogs™ Edition Whiskey featuring K-9 Flash, from Heritage Distilling Company, as part of the Salute Series.
Ten dollars from every bottle sold through the K-9 Flash Campaign will be donated to Project K-9 Hero, with a minimum goal of $25,000 donated by the end of 2025!
All purchases are made through Heritage Distilling Company. Must be 21 or older to purchase or consume alcohol. Please enjoy responsibly. Salute Series™ Service to America Salute ™: Law Dogs™ Edition fundraising whiskey is brought to you by Heritage Distilling Co. to honor and celebrate those who serve. Available to ship nationwide to 45 states. Unfortunately, they CANNOT ship to AK, HI, MI, SD, UT.
Keep track of your dogs with a Halo Lights collar, sold in our online shop! This item will help you see where your best friend is, even in the dark. One size fits all. All purchases support our retired K-9 Heroes.
14 Light Modes:
- 3 - Red
- 3 - Green
- 3 - Blue
- 3 - Pink
- 2 - Multi-Color Rainbow
Many thanks to Black Gold Explorer Dog Food for donating $5 per bag sold at 17 Coastal Farm & Ranch and C-A-L Ranch stores across the Northwest US.
This promotion runs through the month of July.
We appreciate you supporting us through your local shops!
Admitted to our program in June 2025, these dogs are now lifetime members of the Project K-9 Hero Pack and will receive full medical care for the duration of their lives from our organization, thanks to you!
Don't forget to check out our BLOG, where you can read about our Program Members as soon as they join!
WELCOME SERGEANT BO
Program Member #340
We at Project K-9 Hero are extremely honored to welcome Sergeant “Bo,” a highly decorated Therapy Dog, who served the Metro Nashville Police Department, when the citizens needed his presence the most.
Sgt. Bo has deployed over 600 times to provide comfort to students, teachers, and staff during his two and a half years of service to the greater Nashville School System. He has responded to major incidents such as the Covenant School Shooting that occurred in March of 2023. Sgt. Bo played a major role in the healing process by continuously visiting the school weekly to comfort all of those who were affected by that traumatic experience.
WELCOME MPC LENNY
Program Member #341
Please Welcome Multi-Purpose Canine (MPC) "Lenny" to our Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 341st Program Member!
MPC Lenny spent six years assigned to the U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). He served with extreme valor during his career, deploying three times to the Pacific Theater with his fellow Green Berets. He was instrumental in the introduction and development of Multi-Purpose Canine programs for four separate partner force countries. These programs greatly increased our partner forces' ability to detect explosives, as well as tracking and apprehension of enemy combatants.
WELCOME K-9 ELISE
Program Member #342
Please welcome K-9 “Elise” to our Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 342nd Program Member! Elise served as an Explosives Detection Federal Police K-9 within the Department of Defense Intelligence Community. K-9 Elise has suffered from Lumbosacral Spinal Canal Stenosis since December 2021, and she continued to work through this ailment until her retirement in January of 2025.
K-9 Elise has faithfully served the Department of Defense mission since 2020. For the last five years, she has provided critical Explosives Detection K-9 expertise in support of National Security. In her career, Elise has searched over 50,000 vehicles, as well as having over 600 Deployments for suspicious vehicles & packages. Elise has completed multiple details for VIP support, to include working at top secret facilities in Texas and Georgia, away from her home base in the Greater Washington D.C. area
WELCOME K-9 HIGGENZ
Program Member #343
Please welcome K-9 “Higgenz” to our Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 343rd Program Member. Higgenz served as an Agricultural Commodities Detection K-9 with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for six years.
K-9 Higgenz' specialized training allowed him to detect agricultural materials in a variety of settings, such as boxes, pallets, and trucks at commercial shipping facilities throughout the state. His ability to work on moving conveyor belts further demonstrates his adaptability and precision in demanding environments.
It is with sadness that we let you know we lost four Pack Members in June of 2025. We salute them for their service and will never forget their contributions to our country. You can read their full End of Watch post on our website.
K-9 Houdini
Program Member #148
It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the sad news that we lost Project K-9 Hero Program Member #148, K-9 Houdini, in his sleep.
Houdini served as an Explosives Detection K-9 at both LAX and Detroit Metro Airport protecting countless lives of American and International Travelers. He was fortunate to spend his retirement with his Handler and her family in Michigan, going on one last camping adventure with them the weekend before his passing, saying goodbye with dignity and honor.
We at PK9H were honored to serve Houdini in retirement with medical care, and we will ensure that he is never forgotten!
November 13th, 2010 - June 7th 2025
K-9 Maggie
Program Member #260
It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the news that Project K-9 Hero Program Member #260, K-9 Maggie, passed away at 16 years old. K-9 Maggie was our very first recipient from the State of South Dakota!
Maggie served as an Accelerant Detection K-9 (ADC) with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. She was diagnosed with a severe case of Degenerative Bone Disease in her back that affected her mobility, specifically in her rear legs.
Please take a moment to say goodbye to K-9 Maggie. PK9H was so honored to protect you after all you have done to protect your community, the State of South Dakota, and the United States of America.
April 9th, 2009 - June 10th 2025
K-9 Rusty
Program Member #152
It is with extremely heavy heart that we share in the passing of Project K-9 Hero Member #152, “K-9 Rusty,” due to health complications.
Rusty was our 2021 K-9 Hero Awards Tracking and Trailing Dog of the Year! His accomplishments and resume are so distinguished that it is impossible to put his legacy into words. Rather we offer you this amazing video of his story to remember Rusty and the mark he left on his agency (Greenville County Sheriff's Office), the State of South Carolina, and the world!
Please keep his Handler, Chris Robinson, and his family in your thoughts as we at PK9H will ensure that Rusty is #NeverForgotten!
July 4th, 2011 - June 16th, 2025
K-9 Marek
Program Member #321
It is with extremely heavy heart that we share the passing of Project K-9 Hero Member #321,“K-9 Marek,” due to health complications.
K-9 Deputy Marek honorably served with the Rockland Maine Police Department, from 2019 to 2024, as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9.
K-9 Marek spent five years serving as the only certified K-9 in his entire county, helping keep its citizens safe from dangerous criminals. Throughout his career, Marek participated in over 300 deployments, resulting in many criminal finds, over a kilo of narcotics found, and the recovery of many lost hunters, hikers, and elderly people. Marek also responded to calls for service while on patrol, and participated in community demonstrations for schools, youth programs, and public relations events.
In retirement, Marek was diagnosed with a fused vertebrae that caused him to medically leave service early. This condition had greatly affected his rear legs, and we were honored to assist in taking care of his medical bills while he battled these issues as one of our Program Members.
Please keep his Handler, Tim Davis, and his family in your thoughts. As we at PK9H will ensure that Marek is never forgotten.
November 17th, 2017 - June 16th, 2025
REMEMBERING BILL BOLYARD
David William “Bill” Bolyard, 67, of Whitwell, Tennessee (formerly of Kingwood, West Virginia), passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on Whitwell Mountain on Tuesday, July 2, 2025.
Bill was born on November 4, 1957, in Oakland, Maryland, the son of Charles E., Sr. and Marion (Lee) Bolyard of Kingwood, WV. He was a proud graduate of Kingwood High School, Class of 1976.
On August 26, 1978, Bill married the love of his life, Anita Joy (Hollis). Together, they built a life centered around family and hard work. For nearly 44 years, Bill and Anita were self-employed, operating the family business, Charles E. Bolyard & Son. Bill was a master electrician and skilled equipment operator, known for his precision, talent, and dedication to quality. He truly enjoyed working outdoors, and his hands-on approach helped define the standard of excellence the business became known for.
Following Anita’s passing, Bill relocated to Tennessee to be closer to his daughters. In the final chapter of his life, he dedicated himself to Project K-9 Hero, a nonprofit organization deeply meaningful to the entire family. As a construction consultant, Bill played a pivotal role in the development of the organization’s Rehabilitation and Rehoming Center in Whitwell. His lifetime of knowledge, experience, and leadership directly contributed to the creation of the facility, and his presence will be profoundly missed by everyone who worked alongside him.
Bill was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was the embodiment of selflessness and sacrifice, always putting his family first and ready to support those he loved in whatever way he could. He never met a stranger and had a gift for turning acquaintances into friends. His wisdom, warmth, and willingness to help others left an impression on all who knew him.
Bill lived by his faith and found peace and purpose in worship. His voice, steady and full of heart, became a reflection of his spirit in song. He never missed the opportunity to take in a good sunset, often pausing to enjoy the stillness and beauty of the moment—a simple pleasure that reflected his deep appreciation for the life the Lord had provided.
He deeply valued the company of his many friends. Each morning, he enjoyed breakfast and coffee with a close-knit group on the mountain, and he cherished the friendships he built in Tennessee while continuing to stay connected to lifelong friends in West Virginia through regular visits. Weekly dinners with friends in Chattanooga were a highlight, and he never passed up an opportunity to spend time in good company. An avid NASCAR fan, he enjoyed attending races with his brother and friends.
He enjoyed cooking and had a special knack for making buckwheat cakes—something he mastered and took pride in sharing. Whether it was a simple breakfast or a hearty meal, Bill found joy in feeding others and making them feel at home.
A cowboy at heart, Bill loved to travel—especially to the American West—and in recent years was a regular at the National Finals Rodeo. He embraced the western lifestyle with pride, always ready with a pair of cowboy boots and a hat for every occasion. He also found peace and joy in the quiet of fishing, the adventure of hunting, and the occasional round of golf with friends.
Throughout his life, Bill also dedicated himself to serving his community. His contributions included:
Nearly 50 years with the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as Engineer and on the Board of Directors
24 years as Chairman of the Board, City of Kingwood
14 years as Chairman, City of Kingwood / Kingwood Water Works
7 years as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Preston County Chamber of Commerce
Bill is survived by his loving daughters, Amanda Bolyard and Sheena Haller and husband Roger Haller, Jr.; his cherished grandson, Hollis Haller; and his brother and sister-in-law, Charles E. Bolyard, Jr. and Sandy (Livengood).
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles E. Bolyard, Sr., and Marion (Lee), and by his beloved wife, Anita Joy (Hollis).
